Thomas a



(No Model.

' T. A WATROUS.

THILL COUPLING. No. 469,106. Patented Feb. 16, 1892.

V T 59/ L NrTEED STATES;

P TE T OFFICE.

THOMAS A. \VATROUS, OF ELMIRA, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DENNIS BEVIER AND SILAS BEVIER, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,106, dated February 16, 1892.

Application filed August 1O 1891. Serial No. 402,183. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. WATRoUs, a citizen of theUuited States, residing at Elmira, in the county. of Chemung and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thin-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference.

being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings.

One object of my invention is the provision of a thill-coupling which will be free from rattling or vibratory movement of its parts and so constructed as to do away with the separate or loose nut usually employed to hold the anti-rattling cushion in place and secure the desired pressure.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a thill-coupling which can be easily applied and detached, which can be easily ad- 3' usted to take up wear, and which will be more durable than other devices.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a thill-coupling which will be compact and simple of construction, which will be of ornamental appearance, and which can be made for a comparatively low price.

Another good feature is that one can increase or diminish the pressure or bearing at will, thus greatly facilitating the operation of adjusting or removing the thills or pole.

To attain the desired objects, my invention consists of a thill-coupling constructed substantially as illustrated, described, and specifically claimed.

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my coupling. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view thereof, and Fig. 3 represents a detail view of the anti-rattler detached and with its parts separated.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the clip which surrounds the axle B, B designates the draw-irons or lugs, C designates the thill-iron, and D designates the bolt for connecting the thill and draw-irons, all of which parts are of the well-known form," and in connection with which I use my invention.

My anti-rattler is of peculiar and novel construction, and consists of the wedge-shaped cushion -E, having an opening F therethrough, the protecting cap-plate G, having the curved portion H, which is adapted to fit and press against the shaft-eye, the thick plate K, with flange K to intervene between cushion and eye to protect it from wear and having the concave bearing-face T formed with an opening K in center of f1 ange (to relieve the cushion from pressure where the screw passes through it) the thick part L having a screw-threaded opening M. When the anti-rattlerisin position, the screw N passes through the protecting cap -plate cushion, and has the lower threaded end engaging the threaded opening M. Thus the upper and lower sections of the anti-rattling device are firmly united and the means for compression of the same provided,

as by turning the screw down the upper and lower sections are drawn together, causing the rubber cushion to swell out and press the intervening concave-faced plates against the shaft-eye, preventing vibratory motion of all the shackle parts and consequent rattling and wear. When in position, a portion of the lower or metal section of the device isfirmlypressed and held between the cushion and thill-iron, 8c and is thus prevented from dropping off and being lost, should the screw be run up too far,

as is often the case where the usual separate nut is used. When the pressure is off, a space or slot is purposely left between the metal parts that fit and bear against the shaft-eye. This allows a free compression of the rubber cushion by the aid of the screw, thus increasing the effectiveness of the device by drawing the upper and lower sections of said parts toward each other and causing them to wedge in firmly against the thill-iron.

Another novel feature of my invention is that it can be applied to the vehicle in most cases when the thills are in position and with- 5 out removing the coupling-bolt. It will be seen that when the screw is run up out of the threaded opening in the lower or metal section and this part separated from the other the upper section, composed of the rubber roe block and its protecting-plate connected by the screw, is in the form of a wedge, and can be put in its place in the rear of the shafteye from the upper side of the shackle, while its mate-the combined nut and face-plate or ily understood further comment is unnecessary.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a thill-coupling, the combination of the thill-iron and. draw-irons, the wedge-shaped cushion, the thin cap-plate to protect the upper or thickend of the cushion, the thick under plate having the Wedge-shaped upturned flange adapted to fit and bear against the thill-iron and to receive and protect the lower 7 or thin end of the cushion from wear and having a threaded opening through the thicker bottom portion, and the screw passing through the cap-plate and cushion and engaging the under plate, for the purposes stated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. WATROUS.

Witnesses:

H. O. MANDEVILLE, A. B. GALATIAN, 

